When you go to a doctor, hospital, or clinic, you expect to be treated with care and professionalism. But when medical providers make serious mistakes, the results can be devastating, leading to permanent injury, worsening conditions, or even death.
At Postman Law, our medical malpractice lawyers in Chicago hold negligent healthcare providers accountable and fight for the compensation injured patients deserve. If you were harmed by a misdiagnosis, surgical error, birth injury, or any form of medical negligence, our legal team is ready to help.
Our Chicago personal injury lawyers have recovered over $3 billion for past clients, and we want to help you pursue compensation, too.
Why Choose Postman Law After Medical Malpractice in Chicago?
A medical mistake can leave you dealing with more than physical pain. At Postman Law, we take the time to understand what happened and pursue the compensation you may be entitled to recover. Here’s why clients choose us:
- Over $3 billion recovered: Our record reflects years of fighting for people who have been harmed by negligence.
- Contingency fee basis: Hiring a lawyer should not add to your financial stress. We handle medical malpractice cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing upfront and no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
- Others promise, but Postman delivers: Many law firms make big claims. We focus on doing the work. From investigating medical records to building a strong case, our team is committed to pursuing results backed by preparation and persistence.
For a free legal consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer serving Chicago, call 844-767-8626
What Is Medical Malpractice?
When a licensed healthcare provider fails to deliver treatment that meets the accepted standard of care and this results in injury, illness, or a worsened medical condition, a victim can pursue a medical malpractice claim.
In the United States, patients trust doctors, nurses, surgeons, and other medical professionals to provide safe and effective medical care. When that trust is broken because of medical negligence, patients may have the right to pursue compensation.
Medical malpractice can arise from many situations, such as surgical mistakes, medication errors, anesthesia errors, delayed diagnosis, cancer misdiagnosis, hospital negligence, labor and delivery complications, and failures involving medical devices. For a successful medical malpractice claim, you generally must prove:
- A provider-patient relationship existed
- The healthcare provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care
- Medical negligence directly caused harm
- You suffered damages as a result of the injury
Medical malpractice cases often require a detailed review of medical records, test results, expert opinions, and other evidence. Because medical malpractice claims can be highly technical, having experienced legal representation can make a significant difference.
Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer Near Me 844-767-8626
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Medical Malpractice Case?
Depending on the circumstances, multiple parties may share responsibility for a patient’s injuries. Medical malpractice claims frequently involve more than one negligent party.
Some potentially liable parties may include:
- Doctors or surgeons
- Nurses and support staff
- Anesthesiologists involved in anesthesia errors
- Hospitals and emergency rooms
- Urgent care centers
- Nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities
- Pharmacists and pharmacies
- Medical providers responsible for patient care
- Manufacturers of defective medical devices
Our team thoroughly investigates every case to identify all responsible parties and determine whether hospital negligence, medical errors, or other forms of medical negligence contributed to the harm suffered.
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What Compensation Can You Recover?
If medical negligence caused your injury, you may be entitled to recover compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit. The available damages will depend on the facts of your case and the extent of your injuries. Compensation may include:
- Medical expenses and future treatment costs
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Economic damages related to ongoing care and rehabilitation
- Economic damages resulting from permanent disability or inability to work
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Non-economic damages for diminished quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of daily activities
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
Whether your case involves medication errors, delayed diagnosis, cancer misdiagnosis, labor and delivery injuries, or other medical errors, our attorneys work to build strong medical malpractice lawsuits supported by evidence and expert testimony.
Results will vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Deadlines for Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
Medical malpractice lawsuits are subject to strict filing deadlines. Under Illinois law, the time available to file a claim depends on several factors, including when the injury occurred and when it was discovered.
In some situations, patients may not immediately realize that medical negligence caused their condition (for example, a delayed diagnosis or failure to properly interpret test results may not become apparent until months or even years later).
Missing an important deadline can affect your ability to pursue medical malpractice claims, so it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
How Does Medical Malpractice Differ From Negligence?
General negligence occurs when someone fails to act with reasonable care and causes harm to another person. Medical malpractice is a specific type of negligence that involves a healthcare provider or health care professional whose actions fall below accepted medical standards.
For example, a driver who causes a collision may be negligent. A doctor who fails to diagnose a serious illness, commits surgical errors, or makes medication errors may be liable for medical malpractice.
Not every poor outcome qualifies as med mal. The key question is whether medical professionals provided care that fell below the accepted standard under similar circumstances.
How Do You Choose a Medical Malpractice Lawyer?
Medical malpractice claims often involve extensive evidence, expert witnesses, and aggressive defense strategies from hospitals, medical providers, and insurance companies.
When searching for a medical malpractice lawyer in Chicago, consider whether the firm has experience handling cases involving:
- Medical malpractice
- Surgical mistakes
- Delayed diagnosis
- Cancer misdiagnosis
- Medication errors
- Anesthesia errors
- Labor and delivery injuries
- Hospital negligence
- Defective medical devices
- Wrongful death
Postman Law offers free case reviews to discuss your situation, review available records, and explain your legal options. Our attorneys handle medical malpractice claims on a contingency fee basis, so there are no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Common Ways Medical Professionals Try to Block Malpractice Claims
Medical professionals, hospitals, and insurance companies often raise defenses designed to limit or avoid liability, including:
Patient Contributed to the Injury
The defense may argue that the patient failed to follow medical advice, missed appointments, or withheld important medical information that contributed to the injury.
No Deviation From the Standard of Care
Medical professionals may claim they acted reasonably and provided appropriate medical care under the circumstances.
Informed Consent Was Given
The healthcare provider may claim the patient understood and accepted the risks associated with the procedure or treatment.
Injury Was Not Caused by the Provider
The defense may argue that the patient’s condition was not caused by the provider. Instead, they may try to claim the harm resulted from an underlying illness or a preexisting condition rather than medical negligence.
Statute of Limitations Expired
The defense may seek dismissal if medical malpractice claims are filed after the applicable deadline established by Illinois law or other state laws.
Get a Free Case Review With a Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney Today
If you or a loved one suffered harm because of a healthcare professional or staff member, you should not have to deal with the consequences without a medical malpractice lawyer in Chicago on your side.
Whether your case involves hospital negligence, medication errors, delayed diagnosis, cancer misdiagnosis, defective medical devices, or another form of medical negligence, Postman Law is ready to help.
Contact us today for a free case review. We can evaluate your potential medical malpractice claim, explain your legal options, and discuss the next steps toward seeking compensation for your injuries. Visit our FAQ page to learn more.